Smart Money Conversations

E32: Finances and Feelings with Dr. Meghaan Lurtz

Dr. Meghaan Lurtz is one of the world's leading experts on the psychology of financial planning — and in this episode, she joins Brett Croft and Chris Tabish for a conversation that goes well beyond the numbers. Meg is a professor at Kansas State University and Columbia University, a partner at Shaping Wealth, a past president of the Financial Therapy Association, and the author of the Substack Less Lonely Money. She explains the difference between financial therapy and financial planning, why couples fight about money (and what actually fixes it), and why even very wealthy people can feel stuck, anxious, or like they never have enough. They dig into the psychology of "enough," the hedonic treadmill, the PERMA framework for well-being, and what it really means to use your money to build a life you enjoy — not just a balance sheet you can point to. Meg also shares what living in Naples, Italy has taught her about how differently people can relate to money, time, and each other. If the math of your financial life looks fine but something still feels off, this episode is worth your time. Find Meg on LinkedIn or at her Substack: Less Lonely Money. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghaanlurtz/ Website: https://www.shapingwealth.com/team Email: info@brettcroft.com

#31. Investing in Real Estate Through Limited Partnerships with Mark Roth

Mark Roth has been investing in real estate limited partnerships for over 20 years — across 10 different operators, through boom markets and rate shocks, through deals that 3x'd and one that came back at 50 cents on the dollar. He's also spent 39 years as a commercial broker advising institutional clients, which means he's seen these deals from both sides of the table. In this episode of Smart Money Conversations, Brett Croft and Chris Tabish get a rare, unfiltered look at how experienced LP investors actually think — how they evaluate sponsors, structure their portfolios, pick their markets, and protect themselves when things go sideways. This isn't theory. This is 20 years of writing checks and watching what happens next.

#30. What Small Business Owners Get Wrong Before They Ever Call a Lawyer

Most small business owners don't call a lawyer until something's already gone wrong. By then, it's expensive. Matthew Fornaro has spent 23 years in the trenches of business law in South Florida — one of the most litigious business environments in the country — and he's seen the same preventable mistakes play out over and over again. Wrong contracts, LLC's losing that coveted liability protection, missing documents, commingled funds, and employees masquerading as independent contractors. In this episode of Smart Money Conversations, Brett Croft and Chris Tabish get candid, practical legal advice straight from a guy who goes to court for a living. No theory. No legalese. Just the stuff every business owner needs to hear before they need a lawyer. website: https://fornarolegal.com/contact-us/

#29. The Hospice Doctors Guide to Purpose, Wealth, and Living Without Regret.

What does a hospice doctor know about money, purpose, and living a life without regret? As it turns out — everything. Dr. Jordan Grumet spent decades at the bedside of dying patients, and what he heard changed the way he thinks about wealth, success, and time. In this episode of Smart Money Conversations, Brett Croft and Chris Tabish sit down with the physician-turned-podcaster and author of The Purpose Code for one of the most thought-provoking conversations we've had on the show. This one will make you rethink what financial independence actually means — and why getting the money right is the easy part. webiste: https://jordangrumet.com/

#28. Allan Roth Shares Client Stories, Taking Less Risk When You’ve Won the Game, Moving Towards Simplicity, Private Investments, and Combating Inflation.

In this episode of Smart Money Conversations, Brett Croft and Chris Tabish chat with Allan Roth to explore why simplicity—not complexity—is the real edge for high-net-worth investors. Allan shares insights and stories from decades of advising affluent clients, including why many portfolios become unnecessarily complicated over time, and the challenges of simplifying without triggering taxes or behavioral mistakes. The conversation dives into: * Why most investors focus on the wrong definition of risk * How to determine when you’ve “won the game” financially * The hidden dangers of over-diversification and legacy positions * Why behavior—not optimization—is the biggest driver of outcomes * How advisors can use AI as a “co-worker” to enhance planning Allan also explains his unconventional approach to client conversations—including how he “negotiates with clients using their own money”—to test real-world risk tolerance. This episode is a deep dive into building portfolios—and mindsets—that prioritize clarity, discipline, and long-term success. website: daretobedull.com email:bcroft@brettcroft.com